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AG Williams gets slew of eminent legal advisors

FLASH BACK: President David Granger presenting Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams with his Commission of Appointment as Senior Counsel at State House on January 4, 2017.

Attorney General and Minster of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has been provided with a slew of eminent legal minds to serve as ministerial advisors.

The announcement was made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during a post Cabinet press briefing today (May 4, 2017) at the Ministry of the Presidency.

According to Harmon, “Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Ministerial Council of Legal Advisors to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.”

He explained, “the functions of the council will include providing legal analysis and advice on the development of the justice sector, the government’s legislative agenda and litigation matters.”

Minister Harmon said, too, the Ministerial Advisory Council, will also be responsible for having an input in legal policy design and “to engage stakeholders with interest in justice sector where appropriate.”

The Council, according to Harmon, comprises eminent legal minds in the person of former Caribbean Court of Justice judge Duke Pollard, former High Court Judge, Justice James Patterson and former Justice of Appeal Claudette Singh who is currently the Guyana Police Force’s Legal Advisor.

Professors Harold Lutchman along with Harold James of the University of Guyana have also been appointed to serve on the Council.

Lutchman and Patterson were recently chairmen of two Commissions of Inquiry- one into the public service and the other into a deadly prison unrest.

According to Minister Harmon, “the council will be assisted in the execution of its mandate by support staff from the Ministry of Legal Affairs.”

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall has often criticised Williams’ performance.